Casket-carrier.



No. 63!,574. Patented Aug. 22, [899.

A. KIRCHER.

CASKET CARRIER.

plication filed June 19 189 UNITED STATES v PATENT FFICE."

ANDREW KIROl-IER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASKET-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 631,574, dated August22, 1899.

Application filed Tune 19, 1899. Serial No. 721,035. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW KIRonER, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Casket-Carriers; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved device in the nature of adetachable carrier or hand-grip for use upon coffins or burial-casketsof the class described in my prior patent for casket-carriers, issuedJune 6, 1899, No. 626,432.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View in side elevation of acasket provided with a carrying device constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a face View of thesocket-plate shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 shows a sectional View of acarrier embodying a modification of my invention. Fig, 6 is a face Viewof the socketplate shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates a burial-casket as a whole, and Btwo handgrips which are detachably secured thereto.

A indicates the bottom of the casket, and A the side walls of the same.

Flat metallic socket-plates O are countersunk into the lower surface ofthe bottom wall of the casket near the ends thereof and are rigidlysecured to the said bottom by means of screws or the like and constitutemeans for detachably securing thereto the hand grip B. The said socket-plates, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are secured over elongated recessesin the bottom surface of the casket by means of screws or the like. Eachof the said plates is set flush with the bottom surface of the casketand is provided with an aperture 0, having a narrow slot or extension 0at the end thereof nearest the end of the casket.

Each of the handles 13 is provided at its end designed for contact withthe casket with a flat contact-surface and also with a stud I), havingan enlarged head I), which is adapted for insertion through the aperture0, 7 but which is wider than the slot or extension 0', so that after thestud has been inserted in the aperture 0 the said handle maybeinterlocked with the plate by moving the handle in a direction tobring the stud into the slot 0 of the plate, when the sides of the headwill engage the inner side of the plate on each side of the slot.Obviously the handle may be readily attached to or detached from thecasket by en dwise movement with respect to the socketplate. The saidhandle B will preferably be curved in its upper part to bring the mainpart or grip thereof adjacent to or outside of the end of the casket, asshown in the drawings, thereby affording what may be known as apistol-grip, which fits well in the hand and has the additionaladvantage of bringing the hand in position where it will be out ofcontact with the corner of the casket, as shown in Fig. 1.

As a modification of my invention I provide a socket-plate C and handleB similar to those before described, such modifications beingillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The socketplate 0 in this instance has twoslotted apertures c 0 similar to the slotted aperture in the plate 0,the said apertures being preferably placed one behind theother, asshown.

The handle B (shown in Fig. 5) is provided with two studs 6 11 similarto the stud b of the handle 13, each having an enlarged head b 19 Thesaid studs are placed one behind the other and spaced so as tocorrespond with the apertures in said plate, so that when the same areinserted in the plate they may be drawn back into the slotted recessesand firmly locked in the said plate in a manner similar to that alreadydescribed in relation to the plate O andhandle'B. The result of thisconstruction is to greatly increase the strength of the connectionbetween the handle-and the casket by giving greater length to the plate,which is set inthe bottom of the casket, and providing two studs,whereby the strain on each stud is greatly diminished.

Detachable hand-grips made as described may be located at any suitableplaces upon the coffin or casket and at either one or both eudsof thesame. Ordinarily they will be needed only at one end of the casket, thisbeing the heavier or head end thereof. They may be placed at a greateror less distance from the end and at such distance from the sides as maybe found convenient. These hand-grips are intended more particularly forthe use of the undertaker or his assistant in carrying a casket throughdoorways or down stairways or in other positions where the pallbearersare unable to sustain the casket by the use of the usual side handles,it being the practice under such circumstances for the undertaker andhis assistants to place themselves at the head or foot of the casket andcarry the same without aid from the pall-bearers. Fig. 1 illustrates theemployment of the detachable hand-grips in carrying a casket down astairway. In this instance the head end of the easket, which isuppermost, is provided with the hand-grips,which are grasped by a personwho is in the more elevated position, this position or location of thegrip giving bearer a firm hold on the casketand enabling him toeffectively support the same, notwithstanding its inclined position. Thefoot end of the casket is shown as supported by the handsof anotherperson in the usual manner, this being the lighter end and the one whichis carried foremost in descending stairways. \Vhile the hand-grips arenot usually necessary at the said foot or lower end, because the same islighter and the weight does not tend to pull the casket downward or awayfrom the person supporting it, as in the case of-the upper or head end,yetsimilar handle-grips may be used at such lower end with advantagewhen desired.

Obviously the plates forming the part of my invention maybe very cheaplyconstructed, and inasmuch as the same are set in the bottom of thecasket flush with the lower surface thereof they may be convenientlyprovided on any casket. This is especially true inasmuch as theapplication of the said plates does not require an aperture through thebottom of the casket, which in some cases is objectionable.

The handles are of small size and may be conveniently carried in thevestpockct until required for use, when the same may be quickly insertedin the sockets and used without attracting attention. \Vhen their use isno longer required, the handles maybe instantly detached by moving thesame forwardly in the slots and removing them downwardly out ofengagement with the socketplates.

I claim as my invention-- 1. A casket-carrier comprising a grip providedat its upper end with a flat contactsurface, a stud, projecting fromsaid contactsurface and provided with a laterally-projecting head and asocket-plate adapted to be secured in the wall of the easketfinsh withthe outer surface thereof, said socket-plate being provided with anaperture having a narrow extension and adapted to receive the said studand to interlock therewith.

2. A casket-carrier comprising a grip provided at its upper end with afiat contactsurfaee at right angles therewith, studs projecting fromsaid flat contact-surface, a laterallyextended head on each stud and asocket-plate adapted to be secured in the wall of the casket flush withthe outer surface thereof, said socket-plate being provided withapertures each having a narrow extension and adapted to receive one ofsaid studs and to interlock therewith.

3. A casket-carrier comprising a curved grip provided at itsuppcr endwith a horizontally-extending arm having an upper flat contact-surfaceat right angles with the grip, upwardly-projecting studs, on saidcontactsurface, a laterally-extending head on each stud and asocket-plate adapted to be secured over an elongated recess in the Wallof the casket and flush with the outer surface, said socket beingprovided with apertures each having a narrow extension and adapted toreceive one of said studs and to interlock with said studs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 16th day of June, A. D.1899.

ANDREW KIRCITER.

\Vitnesses:

C. CLARENCE PooLn, Gnanmts W. HILL.

